NBA Power Rankings Weak 2 Season 2012 - 2013

NBA Power Rankings season 2012 - 2013  

Monday, November 12. According to Yahoo sports  expert, Marc J. Spears.

1. New York Knicks (4-0, previous ranking: third): Knicks are off to a perfect start under Mike D'Antoni's replacement, Mike Woodson. Games against San Antonio and Memphis will provide good tests.

2. San Antonio Spurs (6-1, previous ranking: second): Tough stretch starts Tuesday with games against Lakers, New York, Denver, Clippers and Boston. Tim Duncan is averaging nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds.

3. Miami Heat (6-2, previous ranking: first): The defending champs look mortal after losing by 18 points at Memphis on Sunday and squeaking by Houston on Monday.


4. Oklahoma City Thunder (6-2, previous ranking: fifth): The Thunder barely got by the winless Pistons on Monday, but it was their fourth game in five nights.


5. Los Angeles Clippers (5-2, previous ranking: fourth): Sources say Clippers' recent surge played a role in cross-town rival Lakers recently firing Mike Brown.


6. Memphis Grizzlies (5-1, previous ranking: 10th): The Grizzlies have now won five straight games and earned a big home victory against the Heat.
[Also: Phil Jackson wanted to humiliate Lakers VP]


7. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-2, previous ranking: 24th): Who needs Kevin Love or Ricky Rubio? Scrappy Wolves have the third-best record in Western Conference.

 
8. Milwaukee Bucks (4-2, previous ranking: ninth): Point guard Brandon Jennings is playing well-rounded ball. He's not only scoring and dishing, but leading NBA in steals.


9. Boston Celtics (4-3, previous ranking: eighth): The Celtics are playing better ball having won two straight and scored 101 points against Chicago's tough defense.


10. Chicago Bulls (4-3, previous ranking: 14th): If the Bulls can keep up this pace until injured guard Derrick Rose returns, they should end up with decent seed in playoffs.


10. Denver Nuggets (4-4, previous ranking: 23rd): The Nuggets' four-game winning streak came to an end with poor road loss against the Phoenix Suns.


12. Brooklyn Nets (3-2, previous ranking: sixth): Nets point guard Deron Williams will face an interesting challenge on Tuesday against Cavs' young point guard Kyrie Irving.
[Also: Wolves' Chase Budinger out at least three months after knee surgery]

13. Utah Jazz (4-4, previous ranking: 22nd): The Jazz appear to be back on track after winning two straight. Utah's tough road trip continues at Boston and Philadelphia.


14. Los Angeles Lakers (3-4, previous ranking: seventh): New coach Mike D'Antoni will have more pressure to succeed than Mike Brown after being selected over Phil Jackson.


15. Philadelphia 76ers (4-3, previous ranking: 11th): Sixers now know that they won't get center Andrew Bynum back until probably mid-January because of his ongoing knee issues.


16. Phoenix Suns (4-4, previous ranking: 25th): After win over the Nuggets, it doesn't get easier for the Suns. Their next three games are against Chicago, the Lakers and Miami.


17. Dallas Mavericks (4-4, previous ranking: 12th): The Mavericks' fast start without injured star Dirk Nowitzki has come to an end with three straight losses.


18. New Orleans Hornets (3-2, previous ranking: 19th): Top draft pick Anthony Davis looking more and more polished. He's averaging 17.3 points, eight rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. [Also: Bad news for Andrew Bynum, Sixers]

19. Atlanta Hawks (3-3, previous ranking: 15th): The Hawks have a chance to pick up some victories with games against Golden State, Sacramento, Orlando, Washington and Charlotte up next.

20. Houston Rockets (3-4, previous ranking: 16th): James Harden has cooled off after hot start. He's failed to reach 25 points in each of the past four games.


21. Indiana Pacers (3-4, previous ranking: 20th): Indiana has gone from considering forward Danny Granger as trade bait to desperately wishing the injured star was playing.


22. Golden State Warriors (3-4, previous ranking: 18th): With Andrew Bogut sidelined, Warriors blew a big opportunity to get a big road win against the struggling Lakers.


23. Portland Trail Blazers (2-5, previous ranking: 13th): Blazers reeling after losing four straight games, but could end slide against the Kings.


24. Charlotte Bobcats (2-3, previous ranking: 27th): Keep an eye on rookie battle Tuesday between Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Washington's Bradley Beal.


25. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-5, previous ranking: 21st): Irving is worth the price of admission and will soon be viewed as a top 10 NBA player.


26. Orlando Magic (2-4, previous ranking: 17th): The Magic have dropped four straight games after winning first two. No Orlando player is averaging more than 17 points per game.

27. Sacramento Kings (2-5, previous ranking: 28th): Kings have little margin for error. Losing DeMarcus Cousins and rookie Thomas Robinson to suspensions didn't help.


28. Toronto Raptors (1-6, previous ranking: 26th): Raptors hurting with point guard Kyle Lowry out three straight games because of an ankle injury.


29. Washington Wizards (0-5, previous ranking: 29th): The Wizards without John Wall and Nene have yet to win, but have a prime opportunity against Charlotte on Tuesday.


30. Detroit Pistons (0-8, previous ranking: 30th): Still seeking their first win after a two-point loss to Thunder on Monday hurt. They might get a chance against the Magic on Friday.

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